Polar Bears

Where can I see polar bears? We often receive questions about the famous polar bears, such as where and when you can best meet them.

IS THERE POLAR BEARS IN LONGYEARBYEN?

Meeting polar bears around Longyearbyen is rare. Once in a while one can past the town, but most often only footprints will prove there was a polar bear aroud.

WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO SEE POLAR BEARS?

Polar Bears are wild animals, and can travel many kilometers in a day. That’s why it is impossible to say where they are on each day. In general the best places to meet polar bears are on sea ice, since they are often hunting seals. This means that North Pole Camp at Tempelfjorden, and Nordensköld Lodge at Billefjorden, are potential places during wintertime. The east coast of Spitsbergen also offers excellent possibilities to meet polar bears.

In summer it is quite rare to meet polar bears around Isfjorden. Most of the polar bears follow the sea ice northwards, hoping for better hunting areas. But there are still some hunting around the glacier front or looking for other food along the coastline. This means Nordenskiöld Lodge in the summertime is one of the best possibilities around the Isfjord area.

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT POLAR BEARS

Even though it is rare to encounter a polar bear on your trip, you always have to be prepared. This means having proper safety equipment or a professional guide with when you leave enter the wilderness.

It is illegal to follow the polar bears or otherwise try to find them. If you come across one on your trip, you can of course observe it from a safe distance, but you are not allowed to disturb one (say, by driving close by with a snowmobile)